Vending apparatus



July 16, 1940. B. s. MAHAFFEY VENDING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 awe/whom July 16, 1940.

B. s. MAHAFFE Y 2,208,298

VENDING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 16, 1940. B. s. MAHAFFEY 8,

' VENDING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .23. 5'. Al's/Baffy Patented July 16, 1940 QUNlTED STATES 2,208,298 VENDING APPARATUS Benjamin S. Mahaffey, Chicago, Ill. Application April 11, 1938, Serial No.'201,45i:)" l

8 Claims. (01. 312-95) This invention relatesto vending apparatus and it has for its general object the provision of a device of the class described particularly adapted for vending items of merchandise such as small package units of nuts or confections for example, comprising a carrier upon which the merchandise units are releasably arranged in a plurality of vertical series circumferentially arranged and preferably visible through one or more glass panels in' an enveloping casing which carrier may be oriented to bring a desired series into operative position with respect to a delivery opening, and a selector also adapted to 'be freely rotated to an indicated position in. which it is set 15, todischarge a selected unit of merchandise in said series, when actuated, whereupon, by the operation of suitable coin-controlled mechanism said selector. is actuated to release the desired unit.

2 Another object of the invention is to'provide a device of the class described in which the merchandise items are maintained in an evacuated atmosphere until released from the vending mechanism. Other objects of the invention will appear as the: following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds. U

In-the drawings throughout the severalfigures of which the same characters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a vending cabinet embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is alongitudinal cross section through the apparatus; Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2;"

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure-5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a modified form of the invention in which the merchandise items are enclosed in individual evacuated boxes;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation of one of the series of vacuum boxes, the lowermost box having been removed; and

Figure '7 is a vertical section through one of the vacuumboxes.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, the numeral l'represents a casing suitably supported upon a base 2, preferably including one or more glass panels 3 and a cover 4. Within the casing is a carrier 5 which as shown is cylindrical, having an upper head 6 mounted upon a collar .1 fixed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 8 journalled in bearings 9 and I0 supported respectively by the baseand by the cover 4. The upper end of the shaft ii'projectsv above the cover 4 and. has a knurled knob 20' so that it canbeturned. n '1 The carrier isspro vided with afplurality of 5., vertical rows or series H of holders 12 for the. units of merchandise. '.The specific nature and construction of the holders is not importantto the presentinvention, it being essential only that; they support the merchandise unit in a releasable 1 0. manner, and that they respond to a selected tripping element for releasing the unit" of merchandise. As shown, the holders each cornprise a spring member secured tothe carrier-as by the screw or rivet l3 and having a free 119,155,

l4 which resiliently clamps the merchandising unit l5 against the surface of. the carrier glThe carrier has a hole I6,,onefor each holder, and;

' the holders are formed Twith-a bight I! which ex tends through the holes l6, projecting into the g0. interior of the carrier in position to be engaged by the releasing mechanism. The bights ll of the corresponding holders of the several series lie in the same horizontal plane.

As will be plainlyseen in Figure? the carrier" 25 in the exemplary embodiment is octagonal and a series ll of holders l2 extends down the middle; ofeach face of the octagon. Beneath each holder is an inclined deflector 18' which keeps the units of merchandise from overlying one another in the 3Qi event they are long enough to overlap, and guides them outwardly so that they may. fall freely when released. u

1 The base adischarge opening l9 at the front and the series fro'mwhich the selected item is to bevended is. brought to the front, that is to sfay,in operative relation to the discharge opening H] by turning the knurled knob 20. Means are provided for detaining thecarrier 5 in proper operative position for each of the series of holders 40 ll. Such means as "sh'ownconsists ofa notch or indent 2| in the lower edge of each face of the octagon which is engaged'at suitable times as will presently appear by a rod 22 pivotally mounted at 23 upon the base 2. H 45 A "selecto r which in general is designated by the reference. character 24 extends within the carrier '5 and in an operative position with respect' to that "series which is at the time in registry with the discharge opening; 19. Said 50 selectorconsists of a rod 25 journalled in bearings 26; and 21 which are preferably secured to the upper aud flower walls of the base 2. Said rod has a short polygonal portion 28 upon which the selector is slidably'mounted. A part of l 55 the circumference of said dial protrudes through a slot 3| in the front of said base where it may be engaged by the finger of the operator. It preferably has indicia on the edge to guide the operator in determining the extent of rotation necessary to place the selector into operative position with respect .to the item of merchandise which it is desired to obtained.

The rod 25 is provided with a series of laterally extending cams 32. These cams are preferably tion in which the paths of rotation of the cams '32 are out of the horizontal planes which embrace the bights of the corresponding holders in the several series.

notched disk 33', the notches 34 of which selectively engage with a pawl 35 when the selector rod is elevated. The notches each correspond to an angular position of the selector rod in which the cams 32 come successively into vertical alignment with the bights of the holders of the series which are in discharge position. Upon the upward movement of the selector rod 25 anotch 34 comes into detaining relation to the pawl 35 simultaneously with the engagement of a cam 32 with the adjacent holder in the series which is in discharge position. The holder is pushed to the 1 right by the engagement of the inclined surface of the cam with thebight H, the lip l4is moved outwardly with respect to the clamped portion of the merchandise unit, releasing the latter, permitting it to slide forwardly and downwardly along the-deflector l8 from which it dropped downwardly and through the discharge opening I9.

Orientation of the carrier 5 and the selector 24 I for the purpose of bringing a series into operative relation to the discharge opening and for selecting the item of the series which is to be discharged, is eiiected without theneed of depositing a coin. No delivery of goods can beefiected until the coin has been deposited. Figure 2 shows conventional coin-controlled mechanism comprising a slide 35 constituting a handle and having a coin hole 31 backed by a'fixed lug 38 so that the coin cannot fall through; Insertion of a coin in the coin hole 31 permits the slide as to be pushed in until the inclined cam 39 engages the underside of the disk 33 elevating the latter and with it raising the selector rod 25 bringing the proper cam 32 intocontactwith the proper b-ight l1 and effecting the release of the'selected item of merchandise. If a. coin' is not put in one cannot push the slide '36 inwardly to an operative extent, for the upwardly biased lever 40 will enter the empty coin hole 31 and engage the v edge thereof inhibiting further inward movement To of the slide.

The principal object of having the selector'rod locked in angular position by the engagement of the pawl 35 with the notches 34 is to prevent one from turning the selector while the selector rod raised by the coin-controlled mechanism and They are spaced apart a distance I The selector rod 25 is also provided with detent mechanism consisting of a thereby successively discharging all of the items of merchandise in the series.

The selector rod-25 has a pin 4| upon which the rod 22 normally lies, in release position with respect to the indents 2| when the selector rod is in its lowered position. When it is elevated the pin 4| raises the rod 22 so that it engages in the indent 2| and prevents rotation of the carrier. The object of this is to prevent one while the coin is inserted, from rotating the carrier by means of the knurled knob 20 and thereby releasing the corresponding merchandise item in all of the series.

In operating this apparatus, the prospective purchaser gazes through the glasspanels through which the merchandise is on display and selects the series and the desired article in said series. If there is only one glass panel, the purchaser rotates the knob 20 until the desired series and item comes into view. The proper position is determined by means such as the spring 42 which snaps successivelyinto shallow cups 43 formed upon the upper head 6. When the desired series of items has been properly located at the front, the purchaser turns the dial 29 until the proper figure centers itself with respect to an index 44 on the front of the base of the machine, see Figure 1. A coin is then inserted in the slide 36 and the latter pushed in. The selector will now be raised and the selected merchandise item will be discharged.

In that form of the invention shown in Figures 5, 6 and '7, the merchandise items are contained in individual vacuum boxes 45 arranged in series in the same manner as the releasable holding means illustrated in the first described form of the invention. These bodies are removably mounted upon the inclined supports 46 which have suitable quick detaching means such as the keyhole slots 47 which are engaged by the headed pins 48 projecting from the bottom-of the box .45. TheboXes are thus supported in an inclined manner. The lower endsof the boxes may take the form of gates 49 hinged at 50 and which open by gravity to discharge the merchandise item which is contained within the box 45. The gate 49 seals against the end of'the box, a. gasket 5| being shown for making a leak-proof joint. An air vent 52 is provided in one wall of thebox closed by a valve 53 under atmospheric pressure from the outside of the box. Said valve is mounted upon a swinging lever 54 pivoted at 55 on the box. The upper end of the lever 54 has an extension adapted to be engaged by the free lip l4 on the cam actuated member I2 which may be identical in structure with the so-called releasable holder described in connection with that form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4. The empty vacuum box 45 is removed from the support 46 for filling. The merchandise item is inserted through the open door 49. The door is closed and the box together with a number of other boxes are placed in a chamber not shown,

in communication with a vacuum pump and the atmosphere of allthe'boxes Within said chamber is evacuated through the valves 53. When the boxes are released from said chamber the atmospheric pressure on the outside will hold both the valve 53 and the gate 49 in closed position. The thus evacuated boxes are replaced upon the supports 46, the headed pins 48 being inserted in the keyhole slots 47. g

In operation, the selector 24 is brought into vertical alignment with the selected series of boxes and the selector is then raised bringing the proper cam 32 into contact with the bight I! of the member I2 which forces said-memberoutward against the extension of the lever 54, forcing the valve 52 open. The suction within the box being thus destroyed, permits the gate 49 to fall open and the unitof merchandise'to be discharged by gravity.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the specific details of construction and the arrangement of parts are merely by way of example and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. Vending apparatus comprising a carrier having a plurality of releasable means for holding items of merchandise, said means being arranged in vertical series, which series are disposed in circumferential relationship about a vertical axis with the correspondingly positioned holding means of each series being in common horizontal planes, means for rotating said carrier to bring any selected series of holding means into operative relation with respect to a discharge point, releasing means comprising a rotatable and reciprocable member perpendicularly intersecting said horizontal planes, a series of tripping elements on said member extending laterally therefrom and longitudinally spaced at distances equal to the distances apart of said horizontal planes, said tripping elements being arranged so that no two or more are in vertical alignment, the paths of rotation of said tripping elements intersecting a vertical line passing through such series of releasable holding means as may be in operative relation to said discharge point, said member being normally in a position of reciprocation in which said tripping elements are out of said horizontal planes, means for rotating said member to bring a selected one of said tripping elements into said Vertical line, and means for reciprocating said member axially to bring the selectively positioned one of said tripping elements into engagement with the corresponding holding means of said series. 2. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim one, including means for inhibiting rotation of said carrier and said selector while the latter is under the control of said selector reciprocating element. 3. Vending apparatus comprising a carrier comprising a hollow drum having a plurality of releasable means for holding items of merchandise, said means being arranged in vertical series, which series are disposed in circumferential relationship about a vertical axis with correspondingly positioned holding means of each series having parts extending through the wall of said 1 drum to the interior thereof in common horizontal planes, a base upon which said drum is rotatably mounted having a discharge passage, means for rotating said carrier to bring any selected series of holding means into operative relation to said discharge passage, releasing means comprising a rotatable and reciprocable member extending longitudinally within said drum perpendicularly intersecting said horizontal planes, a series of tripping elements on said member extending laterally therefrom and longitudinally spaced at distances equal to the distances apart of said horizontal planes, said tripping elements being arranged on said member so that no two or more are in vertical alignment, said member being so positioned that the paths of rotation of said tripping elements intersect a vertical line passing through the inwardly extending parts of the holding means of such series of holding means as may be inoperative relation to said discharge passage, said member being normally in a position of reciprocation in which said tripping elements are out of said horizontal planes, means for rotating said member to bring a selected one of said tripping elements into said vertical line, and means for moving said member axially to bring the selectively positioned one of said tripping elements into engagement with the inwardly extending part of the holding means which corresponds thereto.

4. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim one, including means on said carrier beneath said holding means affording partial support for the merchandise items held by said holding means and for directing their discharge so as to clear the underlying merchandise items of said series.

5. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim one, including a cabinet supported by said base and enclosing said carrier having one or more transparent panels through which the series of merchandise items are visible.

6. Vending apparatus as claimed in claim one, the means on said shaft engaged by said lifting element comprising a disk having peripheral notches each notch corresponding to an operative position of one of said tripping means, and a fixed pawl engageable in one of said notches when said shaft and disk are elevated by said coin-controlled means to prevent rotation of said shaft while it is in elevated position.

'7. Vending apparatus comprising a carrier having a plurality of releasable means for holding items of merchandise, said means being arranged in vertical series which series are disposed in circumferential relationship about a vertical axis with the correspondingly positioned holding means of each series being in common longitudinal planes, means for rotating said carrier to bring any selected series of holding means into operative relation with respect to a discharge point, said holding means including a vacuum box within which the merchandise item is contained, having a discharge closure and a valve 'both held normally closed by atmospheric pressure, releasing meanscomprising a rotatable and reciprocable member perpendicularly intersecting said horizontal planes, a series of tripping elements on said member extending laterally therefrom and longitudinally spaced at distances equal to the distances apart of said horizontal planes, said tripping elements being arranged so that no two or more are in vertical alignment, valve-actuating means for said vacuum boxes mounted on said carrier and in vertical alignment, the paths of rotation of said tripping elements intersecting a vertical line passing through the series of valve-actuating means associated with such series of boxes as may be in operative relation to said discharge point, said member being normally in a position of reciprocation in which said tripping elements are out of said horizontal planes, means for rotating said member for bringing a selected one of said tripping elements into said vertical lines, and means for reciprocating said member axially to bring the selectively positioned one of said tripping elements into engagement with the corresponding valve-actuating means of said series.

8. Vending apparatus comprising a rotary drum, a plurality of trip operable members for holding merchandise mounted on said drum in circumferentially spaced tiersnparallel with the,

membersin atierand angularly with respect to the shaft so that-- not more than one trip will lie in anyplane common with the shaft, means fornormally holding the shaft so that none of the trips will cooperate with any holding member, ,means for axially sliding the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft whereby one trip will release one holding member.

BENJAMIN s. MAHAFFEY. 10 

